Charles w



0. -w.- BAUG Bung for Ba 1-]. rrels.

Patented July 13, I880.

N PETERS, PNTD-LITHQRAPHEK WASHINGTON D C I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC CHARLES W. BAUOE, OF JERSEY UITY, NEW JERSEY.

BUNG FOR BARRELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 229,943, dated July 13, 1880.

Application filed December 26, 1878.

To this end it consists in a bung comprising,-

among other features, a pin designed to be used with a band of india-rubber for closing a bung-hole having a countersunk loop for withdrawing it, having an externally-tapering portion for expanding said ring and a cylindrical portion of sufficient size to hold said ring in its expanded position without any tendency to work outward, having a passage through it for a vent to afford ingress of air to the barrel, cask, or keg on the withdrawal of liquid from it, as also a downwardly and inwardly opening valve for closing said vent when not necessary to be opened.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 designates a plan of a bung embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same, showing it inserted in the bung-hole of the barrel, cask, or keg; and Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of the bung, showing it raised, so as to admit of its use as a vent-valve during the withdrawal of liquid from the barrel, cask, or keg.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A designates a portion of a barrel, cask, or keg of ordinary construction,pr0vided with a bung-hole, a, having a seat or shoulder, b, in its upper portion. B designates a ring of india-rubber or other suitable material fitted within the bung-hole a and resting upon the seat or shoulder 12. O designates a pin, which may be made of wood, comprising a cylindrical or straight upper portion,c, a downwardlytapering portion, 01, located below the former, and flanges c f at the ends. The lower flange, e, is represented as made of wood in the same piece with the pin; but the upper flange, f, may be made of sheet or other thin metal, so as not to project materially beyond the surface of the barrel, cask, or keg. It is shown through said passage.

as made with a cup-shaped body, 9, fitted into a countersink in the upper part of the pin 0, and as retained securely in place by a rod, h, extending from it longitudinally through the pin to a cavity, i, at the lower end thereof. This cup-shaped body or countersink in the upper end of the pin 0 is provided with a device whereby the pin may be conveniently drawn. This device consists of a loop, j, provided at the end of the rod h, and capable of receiving within it an instrument wherebythe pin 0 may be withdrawn or loosened.

The passage through which the rod h extends is made sufficiently larger than the rod to admit of the ingress of air around said rod to the cavity i at the inner end of the pin 0. In this cavity 2' is shown a downwardly-opening valve, 76, free to play inward and outward within the said cavity, so as to close the end of the passage around the rod h and preclude the ingress of air through it, or so as to open said passage to permit of the ingress of air The cavity i is sufficiently larger in diameter than the valve is to allow of the passage of air around it into the barrel, cask, or keg. The valve is upheld against the passage around the rod h by the pressure within the barrel, cask, or keg until that pressureis reduced by the withdrawal of some of the liquidtherefrom, whereupon the valve drops, and air enters through the passage around the rod h and the cavityt' into the barrel, cask, or keg.

To preclude the displacement of the valve is a covering, 1, of wire-gauze or other suitable material, is arranged over the mouth of the cavity 1', and to preclude the same from at all interfering with the passage of air between the valve is and the cavity 1'. the said valve is grooved or recessed upon its outer face, so as to leave spaces between said face and the said covering 1.

This bung which I have described may be applied to a barrel, cask, or keg by simply slipping the ring B over the pinGand inserting both into the bung-hole, so that the ring B fits upon a shoulder therein, or is retained from slipping inward by any other equivalent devices. The bung-hole may then be tightly closed by forcing the pin 0 inward by a blow or otherwise, so that its tapering portion will tion will fit within the ring and hold it securely in position without any tendency to Work out ward, the flange foverlappin g said ring, so as to preclude the pin from slipping inward too far.

If desirable, the pin 0 itself maybe used as a vent-valve by withdrawing or raising it sufficiently to allow its tapering portion merely to rest loosely within the ring 0, as represented in Fig. 3. When so withdrawn or lifted up it may, on the withdrawal of liquid from the barrel, cask, or keg, be lifted up sufficiently to permit of the entrance of air between its lower portion and the rubber ring into the barrel, cask, or keg.

When the pin itself is used as a vent, it is unnecessary to employ the passage around the rod h as avent and to employ the valve k. In lieu of them a cork, S, tightly closing a cavity in the lower end of the pin, and serving to preclude the entrance of air through the passage around the rod h, may be employed, all as shown in Fig. 3.

It will be seen that by my invention I have produced a very simple, convenient, and desirable bung, which will not protrude beyond a barrel, cask, or keg to which it may be applied when inserted so as to close the same, and which may be easily withdrawn, and will serve the additional purpose of a vent for the ingress of air upon the withdrawal of liquid.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A bung for use in the bunghole of a barrel, cask, or keg, comprising the combination of a ring of india-rubber or other suitable ma erial, and a pin provided at the ends with flanges, and comprising a downwardly externally tapering portion for expanding the ring to till the bung hole, and a cylindrical or straight portion above the tapering portion of a diameter sufficient to hold the ring in its expanded position, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A bung for use in the bung-hole of a barrel, cask, or keg, comprising the combination of a ring of india-rubber or other suitable material, and a pin provided at the ends with flanges, and comprising a downwardly externally tapering portion for expanding the ring to till the bunghole, and a cylindrical or straight portion above the tapering portion of a diameter sufficient to hold the ring in its expanded position, and having in its outer end a countersink containing a loop, whereby the pin may be withdrawn, substantially as specified.

3. A bung for use in the bung-hole of a barrel, cask, or keg, comprising the combination of a ring of india-rubber or other suitable material, a pin comprising a downwardly-tapering portion for expanding the ring, and a cylindrical or straight portion above the tapering portion of a diameter sufiicient to hold the ring in its expanded position and provided with a passage extending through it, and a downwardly and inwardly opening valve for automatically controlling the ingress of air through the same into the barrel, cask, or keg to which the bung is applied, substantially as specified.

CHAS. W. BAUOE.

Witnesses:

OWEN PRENTISS, THOMAS E. Emma.

Correction for Letters Patent No. 229,943.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 229,943, dated July 13; Charles W. Bance, for Brings for Barrels, the surname of the paten erroneously written and printed in said Letters Patent Bauce instead of Bum the proper corrections have been made in the records of this Office, and that correction is hereby made in the said Letters Patent.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 5th day of November, A. 1880.

O. SOHURI Secretary of the [SEAL] Oountersign ed E. M. MARBLE,

Commissioner of Patents. 

